title: Survey assessment on pediatricians' attitudes on head lice management.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pediculosis capitis is a worldwide health problem. One of the most important factor in effective head lice eradication is to ensure that infestation is adequately recognized and treated. Our survey investigated the knowledge and practice among primary care Italian pediatricians regarding to the prevention and treatment of head lice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The questionnaire was distributed to all the pediatricians registered at the Annual Congress of Practice in Pediatrics held in Florence, Italy, November 11-12, 2011. It includes 10 questions in a multiple choice format, and one answer for each question was provided. The questionnaire was conceived by pediatricians at the Infectious Disease Unit of the Department of Science for the Health of Woman and Child, University of Florence. Questions were designed according to the guidelines by the Italian Pediatric Society (SIP), and international guidelines, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 364/600 pediatricians (60.7% of physicians registered to the Congress) returned the questionnaire. The majority of them (232/364; 63,7%) believe that parents consult their primary care pediatrician only after the failure of other "remedies". Mostly, they prescribe Malathion (116/364, 31,8%) as first line treatment. Two-hundred-fourty-three (66.7%) of participants consider creams, foams and gels the most effective formulations. Two-hundred-sixty-two of pediatricians interviewed (72.0%) suggest to repeat the treatment after one week, 37/364 (10.2%) after two weeks. The majority of the pediatricians interviewed reported that recurrences occur in less than 30% of cases (279/364; 76,6%). In their own opinion, most of recurrences are the consequence of a reinfestation in the community (259/264; 77%). Three-hundred-thirty-four (91.7%) of them have never prescribed oral therapy for the treatment of head lice. Finally, 289/364 (79.4%) pediatricians believe that no product is effective for prevention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study that investigates the clinical practice of family pediatricians about the management and treatment of head lice globally, the Italian pediatricians surveyed proved to be quite informed on the head lice management. However, even in a country where pediatric assistance is free for everybody, a considerable proportion of parents do not seek advice to their own family pediatrician. Therefore, educations of parents, other than continuous updating of pediatricians, may contribute to a better management of head lice in the community.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Unit of Paediatrics, University of Florence, Anna Meyer Children's University Hospital, Viale Pieraccini, 24 I-50129 Florence, Italy. luisa.galli@unifi.it.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fancelli
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prato
authors.forename: Carlotta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montagnani
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pierattelli
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Becherucci
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chiappini
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Martino
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Galli
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology; D007558:Italy; D010373:Lice Infestations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008294:Malathion / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods; D010374:Pediculus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012536:Scalp Dermatoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D008294:Malathion